ZipLevel(R) EZDepth(R) Tool for excavators

ABSTRACT

A method of measuring a depth in an a excavator uses a pressurized hydrostatic electronic altimeter, and attaches a reference cell of an electronic elevation measuring device to an arm of the excavator. The dual bore tube associated with the elevation measuring device is run from the reference cell to a display in an area of a cab of the excavator. The reference cell is zeroed, while holding a portion of a digging portion of the excavator near the ground, then the trench is dug, and a depth of digging with the excavator is determined, by pressing the digging portion of the excavator against the bottom of the excavated portion, and measuring the depth using the device

This application claims priority from Provisional Application No. 63/027,821, filed May 20, 2020, the entire contents of which are herewith incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

A common arduous task is documenting job site depths. This task needs to be done for a diverse variety of projects including engineering, architectural and industrial planning, excavation, grading, foundations, landscaping, septic systems, pools/spas, foundation settlement, remodeling and forensics. An operator will typically dig using an excavator, and the depth of the dig is based on the depth of the shovel of the excavator.

Existing technology for sensing depth is complex. A typical technology uses microcontroller inputs from multiple angle and tilt sensors located on excavator moving elements, to synthesize a value indicative of depth. This is costly and has substantial installation and calibration time and numerous failure modes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The inventor recognized a number of drawbacks with the current systems and invented a better way of detecting depth automatically during such a dig.

The present application describes using the core of a bubble free high Precision Altimeter on an the excavator to determine the depth of a dig.

This allows fast and easy installation, calibration and improvement of cost and labor savings, work quality and safety benefits of instant, and readings of depth of excavation, from the cab without a laser and rod man.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the Drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a digger with an embodiment installed;

FIG. 2 shows a closeup of the altimeter Reference Cell mounted on the shovel; and

FIG. 3 shows a display that is visible inside the cab of the excavator.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An embodiment, as described herein, describes using an electronic pressurized hydrostatic altimeter to determine the depth of the dig when using a mechanical digger device. The device, called the ZIPLEVEL® EZDepth® is an inexpensive alternative to costly cab based digital depth instruments. The EZDepth® uses the core of the quarter century proven ZIPLEVEL® PRO-2000, which is a pressurized, bubble free High Precision hydrostatic altimeter.

This bubble free device has a Reference Cell with a compliant diaphragm that separates a hydrostatic liquid from a pressurizing gas. Both the liquid and gas are routed through a dual bore core and routed over liquid carrying lines to a differential pressure sensor in the display portion of the device. In the pressure sensor, the gas pressure is applied to one side of the sensor diaphragm and the hydrostatic liquid to the opposite side. This arrangement avoids measurement of the pressurizing gas pressure changes over temperature and time while preventing desorption of gases and bubble formation in any liquid located above the reservoir, a problem that has limited historic hydrostatic altimeters to storage and use below the liquid reservoir.

In an embodiment, the Reference Cell is taken out of the hub of the standard ZIPLEVEL®. The reference cell is armored with ABS or other ruggedized material, and secured as close as possible to the bucket pivot, as shown in FIG. 1 . The liquid carrying lines travel via a dual bore tube, e.g., 30′ of tube, that is attached via tie wrap to the hydraulic lines of the digger and the excess is coiled and secured near the cab. The display (containing the differential pressure sensor) is also located in the cab.

An embodiment is shown in the figures.

FIG. 1 illustrates the excavator 100, which has been retrofitted with the ZIPLEVEL® EZDepth® device. The excavator, as conventional, includes a cab 105, and a shovel 120. The shovel 120 has a shovel bottom surface 125. There is also a pivot 126, and the shovel pivots on the pivot point. The shovel is attached to an arm, and the pivot 126 connects between the arm 115 and the shovel 120.

In an embodiment, the Reference Cell 130 is attached to the arm of the excavator, as close as possible to the pivot 126. The reference cell 130 is connected to a dual bore tube 135 which connects the reference cell 130 to the display 140, which automatically calculates the depth. In the embodiment, the reference cell 130 is connected using a stainless steel tightenable clamp (e.g., a hose clamp), described herein and shown with reference to FIG. 2 .

The hose 135 travels along the arm of the excavator, adjacent to the hydraulic lines, and to the display 140 in the cab of the vehicle or the Whatever.

In the embodiment, the reference cell 130 is shown being connected to the arm of the excavator, using a hose clamp 200. The hose clamp 200 is tightened around the reference cell and the excavator arm 115, to hold the reference cell into place.

This has the effect of measuring the altitude of the reference cell, which altitude, which is then displayed on the display 140.

In an embodiment, the display includes a number of controls, including a calibration control, a scale control and a zero control 300. In operation, the user can place the bottom surface 125 of the digging bucket against the ground, and press the zero button 300. This has the effect of zeroing the location of the digging bucket, thus allowing further measurements after that zero operation, to read absolute depth of the bottom of the digging bucket.

An optional ZIPLEVEL® SmartLink sends data to smart devices on a panel or up to 100′ away for real time profiles and tables or elevations plotted on site photos (described in application Ser. No. 17/248,599, filed Apr. 6, 2021) for instant sharing of documentation before, during and at the end of your project.

The previous description of the disclosed exemplary embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present invention. Various modifications to these exemplary embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A digging measurement device, comprising: a reference cell, which operates to measure an altitude, the reference cell having a tube connected thereto, and the tube connected to a remote processor which detects an altitude of the reference cell, and the processor connected to a display, where the reference cell is connected to an arm of an excavator, where the tube is connected along an arm of the excavator, where the remote display is located in a cab of the excavator, where the remote display has a control that allows zeroing a level of the reference cell and labelling a current level of the reference cell as zero in altitude, and the remote display enables viewing subsequently altitudes of the excavator arm to determine a depth of digging of the excavator arm.
 2. The measurement device as in claim 1, wherein the reference cell is connected to the arm of the excavator by a stainless steel clamp, and the tube is connected along side hydraulic lines of the excavator.
 3. The measurement device as in claim 1, wherein the reference cell is connected as close as possible to a hinged area of the bucket pivot.
 4. The measurement device as in claim 1, wherein the reference cell is covered with ABS.
 5. A method of measuring a depth in an excavator, comprising: attaching a reference cell of an electronic elevation measuring device to an arm of the excavator; running the tube associated with the elevation measuring device from the reference cell to a display in an area of a cab of the excavator; zeroing the reference cell, while holding a portion of a digging portion of the excavator near the ground; digging with the excavator; and determining a depth of digging with the excavator, by pressing the digging portion of the excavator against the bottom of the excavated portion, and measuring the depth using the device. 